The past week has been a monumental one for weddings. “Waity Katie” finally got her big day — and a far more complimentary nickname: The Duchess of Cambridge. Unless you’ve been in a coma for the last week, you’ve no doubt caught some coverage of Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s historic wedding. You couldn’t even miss it by being in outer space. I actually saw a clip of astronauts watching from their space shuttle.
Just because you’re not marrying into royalty doesn’t mean you can’t have a wedding fit for a princess. Kate, of course, had millions of dollars, diamonds galore and an actual palace at her disposal. But, with a little creativity, even we “commoners” can incorporate some of the best elements of the royal wedding into our own big days.
Throw a champagne brunch
Who says a wedding has to include dinner? Kate and Wills kicked off their post-nuptial celebration with a champagne and canapé brunch. Lucky guests sipped on a Pol Roger NV Brut Reserve Champagne and nibbled on elegant hors d’oeuvres like Scottish smoked salmon roses on beetroot blinis, quails’ eggs with celery salt and rhubarb crème brulee tartlets.
Yes, the celebrity-studded brunch was followed by a formal dinner and a late-night dance party, but if you aren’t throwing a seven-figure fete, I think a daytime brunch is a lovely and sophisticated way to go. You may be able to save some cash, and really, who doesn’t love drinking champagne during the day?
Hire a sultry chanteuse
As a lesbian, I’m kind of partial to the sound of women’s voices (surprise!), and I love the idea of a female wedding singer. Of course, most people want to dance to their favorite songs at their weddings, so a female-headed band that performs covers is the perfect solution. What could be better (or more appropriate for a lesbian wedding) than classic songs reinterpreted by a sexy female singer? British pop star Ellie Goulding did the honors at the royal wedding. Goulding sang some of her original songs and also put her own stamp on classics like Elton John’s “Your Song,” which she sang for Kate and William’s first dance.
Leave something to the imagination
Clearly, Kate Middleton had no choice but to wear something modest to her high-profile wedding. But, I think we can all take a cue from her stunning Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown.
I’ve always been a fan of long-sleeved wedding dresses because I find them to be romantic in an old-fashioned way. If a strapless dress isn’t your style or you’re marrying when it’s cold outside, a timeless long-sleeved look like Kate’s may be right for you.
Opt for a weekday wedding
Most people clamor and pay big bucks to throw a wedding on a Saturday night, but Kate and William tied the knot on a Friday morning and the Brits got a bank holiday out of the deal.
No, Buckingham Palace wasn’t already booked on Saturday. The royal couple obviously could get married any day of the week and the whole world would stand still, but the point is that if a Friday is good enough for the future King of England, it might be good enough for you. If your dream venue is unavailable or unaffordable on a Saturday night, consider a Friday evening wedding. It may be a little more hectic for some people to attend a wedding after work, but the ones who really matter will be there.
Forget about shoes
From Victoria Beckham‘s sleek Phillip Treacy pillbox number to the bizarre contraption on Princess Beatrice’s head, the royal wedding was all about the hats. These intricate headpieces are actually called fascinators, as we learned during the 24/7 wedding coverage — and I think we all need to take a serious cue from the Brits and start wearing hats to weddings. What a great way to add a little pomp and circumstance to an affair and make a bold fashion statement at the same time.
Serve traditional cuisine
At most weddings, you can expect to eat some tired version of the same old thing — meat, potatoes and vegetables. Kate and Will treated their guests to a decidedly British feast that included crab from Wales and lamb filet from Highgrove. Even the groom’s cake was personalized. Will chose a chocolate biscuit cake that he loved as a child (awwww). The simple cake is made with McVitie’s cookies and chocolate.
The American equivalent might be serving Hostess Cupcakes at your wedding — and why not? Your wedding meal should include food you love and that is personal to you in some way. If you’re Mexican, why not serve tamales made from your grandmother’s recipe. Or if you and your wife-to-be live in New Orleans, surprise guests with a local specialty like crawfish etouffee. Trust me, nobody will be disappointed they’re not getting another piece of rubber chicken.
Go out with a bang
When the reportedly rowdy royal party wrapped up around 3 a.m., guests were treated to a fireworks display as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were whisked away by a chauffeur — an appropriately elaborate ending to a fairytale wedding. Maybe you don’t have the connections to get a permit for fireworks (i.e. — your grandmother is not the Queen of England), but that doesn’t mean you can’t arm your wedding guests with sparklers to send you off in royal style.
Put your gifts to good use
Kate and Will set up a fund for guests to make donations to charities rather than give them gifts. I’m guessing they are neither short on cash nor unable to purchase their own blender. If you’re similarly fortunate, asking guests to make charitable donations in lieu of gifts is a win-win. You won’t end up with a bunch of things you don’t need, and your guests can feel good about making a contribution.
Since gay and lesbian couples still can’t legally get married in most places, donations to an organization like Human Rights Campaign that is working for marriage equality seems like an obvious choice to me.
What was your favorite part of the royal wedding? Anything you would adapt for your own ceremony?
